Augusta Township Trustee Susan Burek turns to write-in campaign after narrow primary loss
Augusta Township Treasurer Susan Burek is mounting a write-in campaign after narrowly losing her primary battle.
Lynda Dew, who aligns with the opposition to Burek's voting block on the board, defeated Burek 315-312 votes.
A Susan Burek campaign sign.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
Nevel Overton Slack is the Republican candidate for the treasurer's office.
"I believe because of the extremely light turn-out, a three-vote difference is not showing any clear choice from the voters," Burek said. "Many people I have spoken to since did not understand the importance of voting at the primary. Judging by the overwhelming positive response I am getting from the residents during my campaign, I am glad I have continued the race."
Residents will have to write in Burek's name in a blank space next to a blank bubble on the ballot.
Burek is part of the current voting block of Trustee Bill Tobler, Clerk Kathy Giszczak and Trustee Brian Shelby.
Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com.
Comments
P. Polzin
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 11:57 p.m.
On the discussion of the political signs... My community looks like a trash hole from all the signs up and down the roads....... So much for living in a peaceful community, it seems like anything but peaceful.......I don't care if this Burek lady placed her signs or someone did it for her... obviously they knew they were in the wrong or they wouldn't have waited until dark to do so. I work up two days in a row with signs in my easement from Burek and Giszczak...making it look like we support them........ not one person knocked on my door to ask if they could be placed in front of my house, instead they waited til dark...sorry folks but they made nice firewood in the pit where they belonged.... I have never seen the likes of supposed grown people acting like infants in my life ! In my opinion people who act like this have NO BUSINESS REPRESENTING ANYTHING nor do I want them representing my township. The signs are illegally placed as far as I'm concerned...did anyone ask St. Joseph Church if the signs could be placed by the Cemetery? Separation of State and Church...I think not in this case.... Augusta Township is BLIGHTED with all these signs ! I for one would like to see it unlawful for all political signs and harassing phone calls....We are all suppose to be adults we know how to get the information we need to make an informed choice on the ballots.... Your signs ensures a vote against you.
j shelden
Wed, Oct 31, 2012 : 1:45 a.m.
....and another regular poster on the "Augusta Spot Light"FB page. Let me guess, you support P. Hafler and Ms Dew. So much hate you (and your tiny band of 'friends') harbor. Those who scream the loudest are very telling of what is cooking. Someday the light will shine and you will have no more hate. Have you anything constructive to add? God Bless!
T. Brooks
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 1:56 a.m.
I know we all have our political agendas but that does not mean we should not treat each other with respect. The rules are the rules for everyone. By deflecting her own failings in conrolling her campaign and by pointing fingers at someone else instead of apologizing for the poor placement of one of her signs, Susan Burek, only solidifies my original impression of her character. She seems to have none. The name calling by her supporter, J Shelden, only furthers my impression of her whole campaign. and "my kind" are finished hearing excuses from our elected officials.
T. Brooks
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 2:51 a.m.
I, unlike you, have not endorsed any of the canidates, in this conversation. Do not attempt to twist my words as such. I have endorsed legal campaigning and accountablility for one's campaign. I am sorry for your difficulty in comprehending that. I stated clearly what my issue with this particular canidate is and whether you think the amount of my distain is appropriate is of no relevance to me. My political views are my own and if my sense of common decency seems ridiculous to you, know that your lack of empathy for grieving people seems just as ridiculous to me.
j shelden
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 2:15 a.m.
If I am not mistaken Ms Burek has already stated these signs you have such disdain for were not placed by her. So I would accept her explanation on its face. She owes you no more of an apology than you owe her. It is obvious you are exaggerating your distaste to promote your own blood just as it is obvious I am a disciple of the Burek Train. Sorry we must agree to disagree. My apologies to you as well as my sympathies you and your kind...indeed Perhaps someday you come to thank Ms Burek (and her kind). Yet for some reason I am thinking it is most naive and unrealistic of me to ever fantasize you and yours could possibly harbour such civil capacity to admit it! May my favorite candidates win and yours be gone! (afterall those elected officials you speak so fondly of are friends of Ms Dew etc etc. aren't they?) www.WriteinBurek4Treasurer.com Go Burek! Go Shelby! Go Giszczak! Go Howard, Todd, Keefe, and Chie We luv you guys!
j shelden
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 11:19 p.m.
It looks like a Tit-for Tat free for all. We have the Dew Klan together with the MacDonald Klan and the rest of them all running around with daggers looking for a witch. So then they start their own hate-site (www.augustaspotlight.org) and they are apparently VERY threatened by this Ms Burek who is (by all accounts) truly a citizen of Augusta Township (willis to be precise) and she IS indeed registered with the Washtenaw County Board of elections (Yes--ask Ms. Dew. She has (or had) the official letter of notice published on her own hate-site (www.DewforTreasurer.com) So lil ole Ms Burek is being attacked on multiple fronts by these klans and now this apparently fired up angry T Brooks too? Over some silly political signs near a memorial?? You kidding me?? The dead just don't care and frankly neither do I. Now if I did care, maybe I would make a stink about all those candidates for which T Brooks so vigorously supports....Dew, Hafler, Mcdonald, Bennett and Newsome...Ya! Those kinda people place their campaign signs in front of cemeteries. A place of solemn and somber rest for the dead and their grieving families. Well, oh no! T brooks is not angry about that eh? How about CJ McDonald posting his wife's hate-site (www.augustaspotlight.org) on all those utility poles. I ask you this: What would you do if you were Ms Burek and you were faced with all the blatant attacks? It appears the balance of the Hafler's/Dew's etal ALL have illegally placed signs...as many if not far more than all of Ms Burek's. And for those of you people out there who think it's ok to take matters into your own hands? Pray I do not catch you stealing signs I too would start a tit-for-tat campaign myself if it were I under this sort of malicious conspiracy by these potentially crooked persons. I have read ALL of the above sites. Guess which site I believe makes the most sense and has all the basic attributes of being verifiable under the microscope?
j shelden
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 1:16 a.m.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Now that was a funny! You have me speechless with the "Apparently the nuts are plentiful around here!" That's a mouthful for sure.
T. Brooks
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 12:56 a.m.
"my kind" is tired of our corners being littered with their signs illegally. "my kind" is sick of name calling and blaming and finger pointing. "my kind" is looking for accountablility in our township government. and for the record "my kind" will be voting in this election as well. I'm not exactly sure how to respond to the "blind squirrel" comment. Other than to say, if I am a blind squirrel I will surely not starve in Augusta Township. Apparently the nuts are plentiful around here!
j shelden
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 12:07 a.m.
Wow T, You are very fired up. Something tells me you are related to Ms Dew or Ms MacDonald but that is mere conjecture on my part. Or is it? NTL you do make one interesting comment: "Hope EVERY candidate with illegal signs is prosecuted...." That would be ALL the above! So tell me. In this last day's of the political election year. Do you honestly believe you can convince someone there is a punishable offense here? Gimme a break! If Ms Burek were not such a threat to Ms Dew's chances of becoming Treasurer (God please help us) why would anybody even care?? Well apparently Ms Burek's observations and arguments are compelling enough for not only Mr Perkins to to lend credence too, but so too do the Dews McDonalds, and Haflers and Bennets and Kings run scrambling for their collective "whine machines" and start hurling relentless unsupported accusations. I can not change your obvious bias or convince you otherwise. The blind squirrels will always seek out their own kind. Thankfully your kind is way outnumbered. BUt please continue to convince yourself otherwise.
T. Brooks
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 11:59 p.m.
Additionally, I have not endorsed ANY canidate(s) in any of these discussions. I addressed the specific canidate that outraged me with her choice of illegal sign placement. Her response as a public servant, to me ,is unacceptable. J Shelton, yes I am fired up "Over some silly political signs near a memorial??" Maybe you wouldn't feel that way if you lost a loved one there. I know there are more people than myself that are outraged.
T. Brooks
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 11:39 p.m.
Actually, I hope EVERY canidate that has an illegal sign in this township is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Maybe my day would be better spent driving around taking more pictures of all the illegal signs, the ones on corners, the ones near cemetaries, and then speaking to the proper athorities about it. Do not presume to speak as to what i'm angry about. I am perfectly capable of articulating myself. The Burek sign near the memorial was the last straw for me.
chris crawley
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
there are 3 people running for treasurer. all you have to do is look at the way they hit at each other or through their minions. or on their websites note that N. O. Slack has not has not stooped to that level of bad manners. I contacteed him and tried to get the bad word from him on either of his opponents. He would not lower himself to do so. He uses the word civility, We don't see that word used much, nor practiced either. So there is no question who to vote for in this race. Now I can only respect and vote for a decent person such as that.
chris crawley
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 12:49 p.m.
It is about style and manners
T. Brooks
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 8:54 p.m.
How nice for you think the signs around our township illegally are cute, j shelden. I do not. Nor do I find it okay that this person you are speaking of in such high regard, put one of these "cute" signs up at the corner of Judd and Talladay in the midst of a well tended memorial for someone that lost their life on a motorcycle there. If she were so well supported in this township, she should have many people CHOOSING to have her sign in their yard. Alas, I fear this is not the case. Most likely I would imagine this is why she lost the primary election to begin with.
T. Brooks
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 9:20 p.m.
Also, if you are not in agreement that they are YOUR signs, why are you not calling for a correction in this newspaper? The picture posted above of exactly the same type of sign is captioned "A Susan Burek campaign sign." Yes I said it's your campaign sign. The Ann Arbor News says it is, too.
T. Brooks
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 7:47 p.m.
Ms. Burek, you can choose to try and argue cemantics about who put your signs where all you like, the fact remains that YOUR name is on those illegal signs and you are more intesested in discussing your opponets than you are your own responsiblilty. If you were truly a concerned part of this community surely you would call for your mysterious "very strong supporter" to remove these signs and apologize for having offended anyone. I see this is not the case, you prefer to deflect blame for your ill run campaign. Again, I am not impressed with your integrity Ms. Burek.
Susan Burek
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 7:07 p.m.
T. Brooks, Yes, you did. You said I put the sign there. I did not. At the last board meeting, there were a few candidates there complaining of theft and destroyed signs (Lynda Dew was one of them). The supervisor himself told all of us candidates to basically keep our hands off the signs. I personally have not, nor will not touch ANY signs except the yard signs that are mine. If I take those signs down, that would be theft.
T. Brooks
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 3:40 p.m.
Furthermore Ms. Burek, nothing I have said is inacurrate. You're signs are illegal. At least one of your signs is immoral, in my opinion. And you did lose the primary. These are facts.
T. Brooks
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 3:17 p.m.
You are responsible for your capaign. Those signs have your name on them. Why have you not driven around the township removing the illegally placed signs with your name on them? At the very least, it seems you are not concerned with the rules of campaigning. I know I have seen first hand that you have no concern for others rights NOT to endorse you. The sign beside the memorial was just too much!
Susan Burek
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
T. Brooks, You have some very innaccurate information in your post. First of all, I did not place the small signs around the township. It seems I have a very strong supporter who wants to see me win. And, how do you know someone did not deliberately move the sign by the memorial to try to make me look insensitive? I have approximately 40 yard signs in supporters lawns, and probably had that amount during the primary. Finally, even though I did not win the primary (a three vote loss is hardly a big show of support for Lynda Dew) I am a legitimate write-in candidate registered with Washtenaw County. I am still in the running even though my name is not printed on the ballot. I am pretty new to the political arena here and don't have the name recognition that Lynda Dew enjoys what with her running for office for 12 years over and over again.
T. Brooks
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.
I mistakenly wrote judd and talladay, I meant to say judd and bunton roads. apologies
T. Brooks
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 8:58 p.m.
Furthermore, why is there an article about some canidate that LOST the primary. I am much more interested in the canidates that are actually on the ballot, if you don't mind.
chris crawley
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 8:44 p.m.
The data Ms Burek puts out on Lynda dew is bascially accurate. MS Butek may be a nice person , I do not know, but she is part of the current group in control that has created the current situation.. So that choice is former major problem person or the current one. MS Dew has been also very vocal and abusive toward other candidates. our officers need to be public servants, not public bosses , civil is an imorant word here.. The new broom person for this position is No Slack. a retired postmaster and a very nice, civil and helpful individual. He is the best choice for treasurer. We have had several interactions with him, all have been beneficial and friendly, 2 traits we are desperate here in Augusta. While Ms Mcdonnel may have a bad husband,, is it fair to judge her by him? maybe so, but she is not part of the current problem. Is he really that bad? But it is a factor to some of us.
T. Brooks
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 8:57 p.m.
If you could, please explain what facts are correct in ANY of this woman's allegations against anyone? And how were these facts checked?
chris crawley
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 8:24 p.m.
Dew is well known in townshiop
j shelden
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 2:18 a.m.
Kwame Kilpatrick is well known in Detroit
Brendan
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
*Edit* "attending the meetings and town hall's in our township instead of getting the information second hand." In regard to the police forum at Lincoln High School.
Brendan
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 3:19 p.m.
I love the enthusiasm Susan Burek has for her campaign! I commend ANYONE who takes up the challenge to run for any elected office, let alone attempting a write in campaign. However, I believe that slander and the continuous slamming or defending over every issue between every candidate is obnoxious. I just finished reading all of the content on Susan's site, and Lynda's site and the "Pride Team's" website and I have to say, it is kind of disturbing. I am 18 years old and this will be my first "real" election and after receiving a letter in the mail from Susan bashing another candidate all that I can say is, seriously... grow up. If you would show us your professionalism and how educated you are we might listen to you. But, as of right now I am not convinced that someone who argues about every issue and allegation, doesn't follow the laws for campaigning, and doesn't attempt to relate to the voters. Instead of; providing solutions for the problems, putting campaign signs not in the easements, on stops signs and cluttering up our beautiful township, and attending the meetings and town hall's in our township instead of getting the information second hand. If these blatant issues are not taken care of Susan, or anyone who continues to add to the turmoil of our township will NEVER have my vote. My vote goes to Lynda not only because she is a huge help in our township, but she is the only one who focuses on solutions, not fueling the flaming that continues daily. I mean seriously, we do not care about her garage's taxes. WE CARE ABOUT ISSUES THAT EFFECT ALL OF US. Trust me, I do not agree with any candidate fully but, I will note tolerate slander.
j shelden
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 7:52 p.m.
You are an interesting young voter, Brendan. You state you dislike slanderous statements. Had you looked up slander you would notice that "slander" is printed lies without support... I see nothing upon Susan Burek's website ( http://www.writeinBUREK4Treasurer.com/whatsnew.html ) which is NOT supported by at least one one related third party/corroborated and verifiable documentation. Especially this last posting of Susan's where she is actively seeking out property tax scofflaws (of which DEW is certainly suspect here) The evidence is pretty compelling I would say. It saddens me to here our young residents like yourself say "you don't care of she evades property tax" Now for some real slander, you should look at the site www.augustaspotlight.org There you will find none of the supported statements in fact you don't even know who is taking credit for their slander. Other than maybe we DO KNOW the site is registered to Kathy Mcdonald (running for clerk) wife of a documented habitual courtroom denizen named CJ McDonald. The same man who throws up paint on park benches advertising his wife's very malicious website blog I agree you should not tolerate slander. But instead do your homework Brendan. You would be a smarter young man for it. And exactly what are Dew's solutions? And does Dew serving turkey slices to the seniors actually do anything to improve the township finances? I mean charitable work is certainly noble. I do it too. Hopefully you do as well. Yes Susan Burek volunteers too. Both her and Kathy Giszczak volunteer their valuable time at the feed mill to collect soil sample and return test results thru the MSU extension (i believe it is) Don't know what laws you are referring to re: campaigning but I can bet you all those cute little signs will be collected up once the voting is done. I think it is commendable that Ms Burek is campaigning as hard as she is. She has your concerns at heart I am certa
j shelden
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 1:47 p.m.
Susan Burek has my vote. She has so much good virtue. She has so much to say. She even has a wonderful website ( http://www.writeinBUREK4Treasurer.com/whatsnew.html ) She has none of the ties to Pete Hafler (current supervisor--he's gotta go!!) She votes with her heart and most of the time that happens to be the same vote as Shelby and Giszczak (Both also have my vote) Susan Burek has no interest in playing political favorites as do Hafler, King, Dew and McDonald. Susan Burek is instrumental in many of the recent successes in this township. 1. She has modernized the tax collection system. Switching from an archaic and poorly conceived spreadsheet based system with limited ability to cross reference, to a state of the art BSA databased system that is fully integrated to the General Ledger with proper checks and balances. 2. She has modernized the automated tax payment system and will soon have credit card payment ability 3. she has lobbied for and endorsed and voted to pay off the USDA water district loan a full 23 years early saving all of us no less than $500,000 in interest alone. This intelligent woman has also help improve the credit rating of our township. All the other voting block(Hafler, King, Dew, McDonald, Lula and their ilk) believe, in error, that this is a bad move. Those guys are so very wrong. They are wrong for Augusta. I love those efficient little homemade signs Susan Burek is putting up. It shows she is frugal and it shows me she really is interested in having this job. I will definitely "WRITE IN" VOTE to let SUSAN BUREK continue all the good she has done for us. Also vote for Shelby and Giszczak, They are both excellent at what they do and are very experienced. For trustee I endorse Howard, Todd, and Keefe and perhaps Chie as well. Here are my best slogans for the other wannabees: "Don't DEW it" . "Dont Hafta have Hafler" "King can't get along" "Ole MacD
T. Brooks
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 9:11 p.m.
I personally would like to thank all of the current board for doing such a terrificly horrible job of keeping our community connected with even the county. Were any of us informed by our current township government that there was a county clean up this weekend that we could have taken advantage of? For several years now I know our neighboring townships have message boards on the government access channel. We have no such information source. If Susan Burek is so community minded for our township, why does she not reside here? Perhaps her lack of residence in our township makes her a better choice for you, but it will not for me. I live here and see the blights on every corner by the canidates that illegally place signs. One, in particular, that has me angry enough to come here. Susan Burek sees fit to desecrate a memorial that has been kept pristine for decades on the corner of Judd and Bunton Roads. Wow. That speaks to; That is all I will ever need to know about this woman and the lack of her moral character.